Party island Bali prepares to shut down for Nyepi day of silence

Bali’s Ngurah Rai airport will close for 24 hours, the internet will be switched off and streets emptied as the predominantly Hindu island marks its new year with an annual day of silence tomorrow.

Nyepi begins at 6am on Thursday, clearing beaches and all public spaces of people except for special patrols to ensure the silence is observed. For the second year, phone companies will turn off mobile internet on the Indonesian island, which is home to more than four million people.